"Both sides can try to get some political pay out of it. We feel these types of situations actually make the point that a law-abiding citizen should have less controls or it would inhibit lawful self defense," he said.

Shurtleff said that "people have a right to defend themselves." But "there are a few cowboys out there," he said, so the debate could resurface over requiring concealed weapons permit holders to periodically pass qualifying tests that include being able to fire a weapon in a situation similar to Monday's without injuring innocent bystanders.

Shurtleff said he'd like to see the state do as Colorado did after the Columbine High School shooting and put together a task force to take a comprehensive look at gun laws. Although the Colorado task force was led by that state's attorney general, Shurtleff said he would just want to be included in any such examination.

---

Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche

E-mail: estewart@desnews.com